Church Visited by MLK at Dire Risk of Foreclosure

By Stevie Duffin Updated on 1/22/2013

By Daniel Duffield

In light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a church visited by Martin Luther King Jr., historically significant for its role during the civil rights movement, faces a large threat of foreclosure due to owed interest payments.

The St. Augustine church, Greater St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church, was issued a mortgage loan from the bank for restoration and renovation; however, unable to make payments on this loan during the 2008 recession, the bank now owes $211,000 more than the original mortgage as a result of arrears and high interest rates. In response, the church has been attempting to raise $50,000 by February 13, and while the congregation remains optimistic of the church’s ability to gather these funds, the debt is certainly intimidating.

In a statement, Pastor Hodges said, “Every penny that comes toward this purpose will go to helping get this church back on solid ground.” While he admitted that the church is not yet within range of this $50,000 goal, he conveyed that the congregation has not lost hope.

As previously mentioned, this church carries much historical significance during the civil rights movement; in the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. united marchers at this church in the organization of a sit-in a at a local restaurant that he knew would probably lead to his arrest.

Almane Lowndes, almost 100 years old, recalls the day, stating, “Words can't express how I felt seeing Dr. King here with us.”

Minister Raymond Dunlap commented that he hopes that the church can overcome this obstacle to remain a reminder of this important time period in American history, saying, “It is very important that they leave this as a memento of who we are and where we come from.”

While Lowndes’ generation has passed on leadership to the next generation, she believes that the youth need to preserve this memory of Dr. King and always remember the message preached by the civil rights leader on the steps of St. Mary’s at the time.

"Take heed in what is being said about Dr. King and try to do some of the things that he put inside of us. So that we can follow along and complete the path that he started," Lowndes said.

With Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech being removed from the internet after advocates of Internet Freedom posted it in defiance of copyright laws that have prevented its sharing, this church’s struggle against foreclosure is especially poignant in the fight to preserve the wisdom of one of the greatest figures in American history.